Recording and indicating the state of an apparatus remotely

Abstract

A system for indicating a past state of an apparatus through the use of a remote device by indicating the state with the remote device whether or not the remote device is still within communications range of the apparatus. In one embodiment, an indication can be made as to whether or not a vehicle door has been locked by providing such an indication at a remote keyless entry key remote control.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to remote state indication of an apparatus. It more particularly relates to remote devices coupled with systems to obtain state conditions of system features such that these state conditions can be later indicated by the remote devices even when they are no longer able to communicate with the systems.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Many vehicles have remote keyless entry systems which allow vehicle drivers and / or passengers to lock and unlock doors and / or open trunks or doors and / or arm and disarm security systems. For most such systems, the vehicle provides visual and / or audible indications when the state of the vehicle has changed, such as a horn chirp or headlamp flash when the doors are locked. Unfortunately, due to repetition of the process and distraction, vehicle drivers and / or passengers often forget whether or not they have left the vehicle in a desired state, even with the indication that is given by the vehicle. F...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In accordance with an advantageous refinement of the present invention, when a vehicle is locked with a remote keyless entry system, a wireless remote control for the system may record in memory that the doors had been locked. For example, if the wireless remote control is used to lock the doors, a transmitter in the vehicle could broadcast a signal to receivers of all of the wireless remote c

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, due to repetition of the process and distraction, vehicle drivers and / or passengers often forget whether or not they have left the vehicle in a desired state, even with the indication that is given by the vehicle.

For example, an individual leaving a vehicle in a busy and crowded parking lot might desire the vehicle to be locked with the security system armed, but because of distraction the state condition later cannot be remembered, thereby causing anxiety and / or the need to return to the vehicle to check the state.

The results of this sequence of events possibly include unnecessary anxiety for the vehicle driver and / or passengers, a waste of time and energy, and / or a substantial financial loss if a vehicle is unknowingly left unlocked.

A similar problem exists for many other devices.

Additionally, state conditions of appliances, such as irons or stoves, may be desired from a remote location since significant property damage could result if such appliances are left on unattended.

However, to date, there appears to have been no recognition that this is a technical problem that may have a technical solution.

While many apparatus have mechanisms to indicate state change when such occurs (such as a horn chirp when vehicle doors are locked), nothing has apparently been done to record state conditions in a remote device so that the state can be confirmed without being near the apparatus.

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